MEDFORD, Ore. — The newest addition to the city of Medford staff wants to help the city better prepare for an emergency.

Larry Masterman recently became the city’s first Emergency Management Coordinator. His department will work to help city services and the community improve their response to emergencies or disasters like earthquakes, wildfires or major infrastructure problems.

Masterman also said he wants to work closely with other agencies in neighboring cities, including local police and the Jackson County Sheriff’s office, so that they can work together during a disaster.

“We want to contribute as much as we can,” he said. “Because there will be times when the city needs to help [other agencies], and there will be times we need to turn to them for help. We want to make sure that’s seamless when it needs to happen.”

Before coming to Medford, Masterman has previously worked in other emergency management roles across the West coast, including in San Francisco during the 1989 earthquake.